Gators

SEC 2001 - SEC Preview

Rosy Dreams Are Squashed By Spurrier

August 24, 2001

Florida linebacker Travis Carroll was asked to explain what it would mean to make it to Pasadena, Calif., for the national championship game at the Rose Bowl.

Carroll smiled, paused, and then remembering that Coach Steve Spurrier had just told him not to talk about the Rose Bowl, decided he would talk instead about California. The Vanilla Ice-lookalike recalled that he had been to California on a recruiting visit to UCLA.

"I can tell you this about California," Carroll said. "There were some gooood-looking ladies out there. I wouldn't mind going back. No, I wouldn't mind at all."

So, give Carroll credit for at least answering the most asked and evaded question at Florida's preseason media day. Most Gators chose to poor-mouth themselves, and their No. 1 preseason rankings.

When school representatives heard a newspaper photographer had Florida players posing with roses in their mouths out on Florida Field, the concept was quickly squashed. Spurrier knows Florida has the talent to make it to Pasadena, he just wants his team to remember how far away it is.

"You can look foolish talking about national championship before a game has even been played," Spurrier said.

Some may say Carroll's comments were foolish. He'd say he was just obeying orders.